About the author

Having spent an adventurous life with business, traveling, research, and reading wide, Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge, has returned to a sunny spot that is more than adequate for entertaining, and reflecting – and, as an added plus, only a short walk to the marina and sweeping sunsets.

Phil is known for astute observations, insightful analysis, and common sense comments of city, field, and that odd species: humans.

Writers, like sharks, must keep moving to survive. Always looking for a good read – never know what you may find. (besides people who write about cars must be going somewhere, no wait, those who write about cars are heavy metal…no, wait, people that write about cars have class? Better stop before this goes flat….) Anyway, welcome to WordPress. Enjoy the ride – hope our paths cross again.

Thanks so much for “liking ” my post. I really enjoy your writing and think you may be one of those lucky people that just have a wonderful way with words of the English language. I admire that and forever wish that I could somehow perhaps through osmosis be able to use language in this way.

Thanks for the kind words. Anyone like yourself with experience in marketing and photography has a keen era / eye for language and communication. Just have fun blogging. One of the best pieces of advice I have seen about having a “good” blog is : “write, write, write”…(might want to add: read, read, read….and get out and do stuff, get out and do stuff, get out and do stuff.) Thanks for visiting!

Thank you for liking my post ” Stuck in a rut, the Challenges continue”. It helps that others support our efforts. I like the name you chose for your blog, I look forward to reading some of your posts.
Have a good one,
Dwayne

Although I can see that there will be many time when I shall not see eye to eye with your philosophies – I do very much love the blog name and the photo – very clever. Thanks for the visit to my place and the “like” – I always appreciate when new folks stop by! And I do like your writing style very much.

Agree whole heartedly! I *love* seeing other opinions delivered respectfully 🙂 And yes, that whole Perry/Pelosi thing HAD to be a joke? I did love how he made fun of himself afterwards – but dang her response was still pretty classic. Politics is truly hysterical if you remove your own ego out of it. A true game of (frequent) fools.

I listed you as one of my fifteen recently found blogs in my acceptance of the Versatile Blogger Award – thus giving you the award, too. I know people have mixed feelings about these awards. But I view them as an opportunity to let people know about blogs they might not have found otherwise. And your blog is one I definitely enjoy following. Keep up the great work!

As you can tell, I struggle with the brevity thing. Soooo, I’ll just stop now and say thanks for visiting. (my friends call me Phil – long story, but in any case, mostly friendly faces here in blogville.) Enjoyed your visit and hope the new year yields great things to write about…(oh, back to the striving to be concise thing….sorry)

I really enjoy your blog….and since for a while, I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award just so you’ll keep ‘puttin out.’ haha my link is…….http://thomag2.wordpress.com Have a great year.

Not worthy. Not worthy, oh Great One. (Really liked you “7 things about me” section…breakfast and lunch in one hour? Practicing for competition eating – just getting all that annoying time consuming stuff out of the way?) Seriously, thanks for the recognition.

Not such a stretch? Writers, artists, scientists all require something in common: creativity and looking at things a bit differently. Thanks for stopping in – your blog is a delight. Thanks for flying past.

It’s always hard to know if there’s anyone out there. Just keep blogging and readers will come…seriously…they promised. Enjoyed your post – glad you had time to stop by here. Hasta later and we read again!

Thanks for visiting and liking my post! I wonder how you find little ol’ me in this big blogosphere! Appreciate the e-love and I’m looking forward to reading your work too 🙂
Cool blog name, by the way…

I have nominated you and your blog for the Kreativ Blogger Award. I hope you will accept in the true spirit of bloggers and spread the word. Visit my blog announcing your nomination and with more info.
Happy blogging!!

I am unworthy, oh Great Ones!( I really promise to get on those award posts….really…I just keep getting sidetracked…or blocked…). Lots of interesting stuff to read on your blog – like drifting through it.

It was out-fo-the-blue, wasn’t it? I haven’t been on the computer for days…hurt my foot. Still not 100% but I wanted to get my tag-post done since it was soooo late. I’d love to hear your answers but I understand if you have other posts planned, etc., and don’t join in.
Anything’s fine with me.
🙂

Searched in vain for an e-mail address for you, Phil, to no avail. Is that any way for those humans to treat a Philosopher Mouse? As if.

Thank you for your comment at my place. Great to see you there.

I’m glad you liked the story. It has flaws, but I think it has potential. I’m going to see if I can’t whip it into shape and then maybe get someone to pay actual money for it (what a concept!). The Epilogue is in the works, about half done. Then I’ll revisit the whole thing and edit, rewrite, polish, etc.

Hi Phil (the mouse philosopher). Thanks so much for taking the time to click on the “Like” button on my most recent blog post. Your blog is very amusing to me. Keep up the good work your doing here. Cheers!

While you’re in the philosophizing mood, how about contemplating the penetrating question: why do some of us HAVE TO tell the world everything we think about while others sit and meditate, silently savoring their own thoughts, feeling no need to share? Are we driven by some perverse urge to communicate or does this stem from a compulsion to write something – anything?

I asked myself this when I started my blog and no definite answer has come forth — so maybe you can help me.

Hi Christine. Good points. Maybe it takes all kinds to make the world interesting? Some say the onlu thing certain in life is uncertainty…The only order is chaos? Enjoyed your post. Will be fascinating to see what you discover. Thanks for visiting.

I like your perspective… you’re managing to create a voice of truth that is not imbalanced and bitter. Thanks for following my blog, and here’s the new one I also hope you find of interest… http://fikaafterfifty.wordpress.com (“Fika After Fifty),” my way of encouraging women who would otherwise sit quietly knitting through their fifties and beyond, to do something else, something more adventurous, but not all-out crazee. 🙂

Thanks for the like! You were my 50th like so I’m pretty excited that other bloggers actually find my writing interesting 🙂 I like coming across more interesting writers than myself. I helps me with my writing. Very cool blog!

Hello… I just read a comment that you left on a post about Page and Eloise Smith last March. You mentioned that your father was a medic in World War II and fought in the Battle of the Bulge in Germany. My father was also a medic at that time and was behind enemy lines at the Battle of the Bulge. I did a post about him and that time here: http://newdharmabums.blogspot.com/2005/05/memorial-day-remembrance.html.

I’ll be sure to head over shortly to read. Dad was MIA behind enemy lines in Germany with a small group that went back to rescue injured men after a skirmish – the actual lines were very fluid and constantly moving. During one battle the command called the hospital station to warn them that the line wasn’t going to hold and to either leave/take off medic insignia and pick up a gun/or just take chances. THere were men on the table and all docs and medic just stayed. Shortly it was quiet – the word came down, the line held – the German tanks ran out of gas. This was the 42nd Rainbow Division. A brave group of soldiers – a few still are alive.

Hi! I nominated you for the ABC (Awesome Blog Content) Award. I was moved to do so because I am delighted whenever I see an email from you in my in-box. You can read about the award at http://elladeewords.wordpress.com/2012/05/03/a-community-garden-and-abc-awards/ .
Accepting awards to enable you to nominate other worthy recipients isn’t for the faint hearted or time poor, so please accept if you choose and there’s no timeframe on responding, or obligation to do so if it’s not right for you.
Best wishes,
EllaDee

I wanted to let you know that I’ve presented you with the Genuine Blogger award. There are no obligations to join in, of course, and no rules for this one. But I enjoy the opportunity to bring new blogs to people who may not have seen them before. And yours has always been one of my favorites. 🙂

Wow – a party invitation! Thanks for the kind words and including me. I will be over to check it all out shortly. Thanks again – I really do appreciate the support.
(please excuse the giddy/blurry – been struggling with a post that’s been simmering a bit – not sure it’s done, but it’s posted so I can move on..but it will still nag at me, you know how it is…)

Hmm, much check settings on that post’s comment section. Will copy and add that comment in. Rex made me aware of the military dogs’ lives, too. They do serious work and save lives. They deserve appropriate protective gear, suitable comfortable kennels, and recognition and care once retired. Thanks for sending this over here.

Enjoyed visiting your blog – always looking for a good read.
Oh, I try to pass word along if it might help. – can’t resist a sappy animal story. Life is full of drama and humor.
Thanks for stopping by to chat.

Hi, I really enjoy reading your blog and have nominated you for the “Inspiring Blog Award” and “One Lovely Blog Award.” There are a few rules to this nomination (these aren’t my rules, so do what you want…no pressure) you need to give a shout out to me, of course, tell us 7 things about yourself and then nominate 15 bloggers, that’s the tricky part, if you don’t have 15, don’t worry, just pass it on to someone….share the joy by following the link by my name.

If you have all ready been nominated my apologies and pass it on anyway! We all love to be recognized for our work. Enjoy!

I’m honored you thought of me! I’ll click over and review the rules. (envious you are done!) I will get that post written – right now a buffalo is stomping in the background and a mad cat keeps trying to steal the keyboard…Thanks again! Always glad when you stop by to chat

Thanks for stopping by. I always enjoy wandering through blogland and reading. Enjoyed your picture and stuff – different from where I live. Just write – and your audience will build. Write about what you want and how you want -that’s the important thing. Have fun and Blog on!

Thanks for dropping by and stopping to chat. Always a humongous giggle around here somewhere – willing to share those ( and not worry about typos at all…ye among us who is perfect….) Have a great new year!

Thanks for stopping by and liking my post 🙂 I’ve read through some of yours and am liking your style! I feel like it reflects our thoughts, one observation leading to the next, to the next…. All the best in the new year!

hey, Phil…it’s me, Chuckles…remember? anyway, if you like to have some blog awards, hehe…i have some for Molly and German. they may have gotten them already so pick, if any, they are missing. happy blogging to you and crew…http://wp.me/p1RzUf-1M2 oh, and, as usual, i did not follow the rules so you will have to make them up for M & G. 🙂
thanks!! and Woof!

Chuckles! We are so glad you bounced over! Awards – RC is purring so loudly…she says it’s just what she needs for some project she’s dreamed up…and Molly wants to put them by her certificate. Will be over shortly. Thanks for sharing the wealth

Love the photo of the mouse in the hedge! Great sense of humor. I love your clean layout.
Thanks for liking my post on the world of blogging. I am still in awe of your’s and everyone’s creativity and smart writings. You have a very clever theme here!

I’ve just arrived here from your comment to the Dancing Beastie. Are you perchance at Rice? You mentioned Houston and Galveston, and I connected hedges and philosophy to Rice. It’s been many, many years since we were there.

The trees along Rice are just as beautiful and survived the the drought and Hurricane Ike without a bend or break. Native to the area and always feel at home when under them, but moved closer to the water. (The “new” rail line from downtown to med center runs across from Rice and there’s a designated Rice station. Downtown Foley’s/Macy’s closed forever last week.) Thanks for flying over to chat

I’m not that far away – just a bit north in Chattanooga. We grew up in Houston, graduated from Lamar (1953) and San Jacinto (1952) and went to Rice (classes of 1957 and 1956). Neither of us graduated (although we did elsewhere); moved to Tennessee in 1962. Still have family in The Valley and friends in Houston.

So glad you waded through to visit. Thank you so much for the nomination – must swirl up an acceptance post.
Nice you posted that Twitter anthology project info. “Publishing” is morphing into all sorts of new forms.
Thabks for rossing some words over here

Hi There,
Would you be willing to participate in something we are doing for Susie Lindau on Friday morning? I am contacting as many of her followers as possible. My thought is that we all post on our own blogs on Friday with the same title, “Susie Strong”. The content would say something simple like, We are thinking of you. I haven’t known Susie for long but this blogging world is such a family. I thought it would be nice for her to see this message from as many of us as possible. Her husband is going to be updating us after her surgery. He can tell her or she can see it once she is up to it. Are you in? Thanks, Maria aka brickhousechick

Was thinking today about emailing or posting something for her. This is a great idea – Are we going to post all at the same time? Stagger postings all morning? Before her procedure? Use mountain time? What do you suggest? Thanks for organizing. Definitely in

Very diverse information I found on your site. I love it. I look forward to following your updated posts. I love news about the world and national of political arena that concerns me as a human being. Thanks for keeping up in the know and have a great day, Allie.

Hi Phil, nice to meet you. Thanks for visiting our blog and for the like on the post about La Manzanilla. Your blog is quite amazing – I’ve been travelling all over it 🙂
I think you’re pretty light hearted. I like that.
Cheers
Alison

I have enjoyed your observations about society and our species. i like your style of writing and can relate to a lot of what you said about the war. i’m happy to find many of your followers with a similar reaction to the idea of war. keep on fueling the fire to keep peace. good work

Thanks for the lovely comment. People everywhere just want to be left alone to live with their families…and are tired of other people (who often don’t even live there or live with consequences) telling them how to run their lives. Sometimes you have to take a stand. Thanks for coming by ( and you create the most beautiful art work!)

Some of us are easily amused….wary enough to keep a little distance… and not poke the sleeping giants…well, not often…OK only with a long stick and being ready to run really fast. Thanks for joining the chase

Hi Phil,
I’ve been enjoying reading your past blogs about the oak tree in League City that was moved. I’m trying to learn more about the reason why the road was being widened and why there didn’t seem to be any other alternative to removing the tree, for example, why not widen the road on the other side, where there wasn’t an ancient oak tree? Obviously there were other impediments. If you can recall what any of them were, or who I could contact to find out more, I’d appreciate you letting me know. It’s an amazing amazing story!
Thanks very much from the cold regions of Canada, where it actually snowed this morning…
Susan

Glad something tickled your brain. Things aren’t always as they appear around here -(bring a sense of humor and remember those old O’Henry style of short stories…usaually feel like new readers deserve some warning …run now!No, glad you wandered over and stopped to chat.) Appreciate the kind words. Will by eddying by your way shortly!

Happy you wandered over and found something that tickle your brain. Always something wild, wacky, or wonderful here…sometimes all three – so hang on! (Just take it all with a grain of laughter. Things often aren’t what they seem.) Appreciate the kind words. Will amble your way shortly!

I’ve enjoyed reading what you have to say; a times, you’ve inspired me to complete a post, write something I wouldn’t otherwise write, or just see things in a different way. Therefore, I’d like to nominate you for the Most Influential Blogger Award. You can read more about it here. I understand if you choose not to accept (or if you’ve already received the award), but I wanted you to know that your writing influences me. Thanks for everything to write!

You are so kind and I appreciate you honoring me with this award. (Will be over shortly to visit. Very behind on award acceptance post, but it is on the horizon) Glad you are jumping and stretching with your writing. Write on! (and thanks for wandering this way!)

Glad you found something to tickle your mind. Wise to realize things here aren’t always what they seem and to always bring a sense of humor. Appreciate our kind words – and will be over to chat. Thanks for joining the dance.

Appreciate you stopping by…here, let me just kick the dog hair tumbleweeds under the couch..oh, wait, that’s a cat not a pillow. Tea or coffee? Popcorn? Oh, we’ll make more to string on the tree. Shall we can turn the AC down and light the fire? Always fun to have friends over – no need to phone ahead…it’s always like this: full of whimsy…things aren’t always as they seem. Oh, the intensely staring cat? She wants a formal request to be introduced…and tribute..we humor her…RC Cat is who she is. Welcome to the Realm!

RC Cat, the Resident Cat of the Realm, snarked at Staff that “Here was one of quality and to set up a formal audience”…but then she wandered off so we must wait to check with her schedule. So rest up and we shall chat again in the future. Oh, Moly sends careful paw waves…she know she knocks people over sometimes. Merry onward!

Hi Phil. I was nominated for a “Blog Hop” and when it came time to write my post and nominate someone else, I chose you.
Phil – Philosopher Mouse Of The Hedge is my first nomination. “Phil is known for astute observations, insightful analysis, and common sense comments of city, field, and that odd species: humans.” But oh, there is so much more. Phil appears to reside outside Houston TX and though his voice is third person and we have only rare glimpses into who Phil really is, we are delighted by the voices of his housemates; Molly the dog, RC of the Realm – the all-seeing, all-knowing queen in the form of a cat, and Bob – the reptile I’m still not convinced is alive. From a pet’s-eye-view of silly human behavior to current events cleverly disguised in fun prose, Phil never disappoints.

Please don’t feel obligated to respond if you are not comfortable. I just wanted you to know how much I enjoy your posts and style! I’m publishing my post this morning…

Ah, a Blog Hop. Will have to cruise over to your place and check it out. I am so honored to be remembered. What a lovely nomination speech. I’m flattered and so grateful. Thanks for musing along with me

I’m so glad someone noticed how wonderful your Nepal post was. Congrats and well deserved!
Appreciate your kind mention and link back this way.
Can’t wait to see what adventures you roll out next ( no pressure…insert giggles here)
Thanks again for wandering this way

We are on the TX Gulf coastal prairie – a block from the one of the marina’s. We’ve raced Hobie Cats, Prindles, NACRA, and had wind surfers and a Morgan 38 sailboat, but mulling over what’s next (and easier to manage with older muscles and abilities). Longboats and canals are intriguing, so thrilled ot have found your dock. Thanks for wading over here to chat!

We are new to the boating life and in order to go on the canals, we have to get an additional licence. Our trip to the festival earlier this month was a learning curve and a challenge, opening the locks used muscles we’d either forgotten or didn’t know we had in the first place. We’re not youngsters either, so the ploddy pace of life suits us both, and the dog’s getting on a bit so she’s slowing down too.

Sounds perfect. At some point you’re happy letting the world float by and looking at stars admiring their beauty rather than trying to figure out where the heck you are. (But we never got to that extreme either). We’ve thought about maybe leasing a canal boat somewhere to try it out, so I’m interested in your experiences. So glad you floated by!

Hi there,
Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by my little corner of the blogosphere and for the follow. I hope that you get as much pleasure from it as I do,
Looking forward to seeing more from you 🙂

Try that? (or look for Shoreacres’ comment on the post)
This was just before dqwn and most were already in flight. Shoreacres said she’s going to try again tomorrow if it doesn’t rain. Lot of Audubon people there taking pix. These guys show up here every year.

Hi there, I just wanted to pop over to thank you for “liking” one of my comments on lifeattitudes. I enjoyed reading “It is not a cat” and look forward to perusing more of your posts. Happy New Year!! ~Steph

Glad you found something to tickle your brain here.. Ali’s blog is a wonder and enjoyed wandering through yours, too. Welcome to the muddle and mishmash. Always good to remember things aren’t always what they seem here – and to always bring a sense of humor. Thanks for joining the dance

I’m sitting here scratching my head. For as long as I have followed you I assumed you were a guy. Your comments today revealed quite the opposite (mention of the husband). Oops, now I’ve jumped to a conclusion once again, haven’t I??! Love you Phil, whoever you might be!

Fascinating topic and Carrie does a great job of opening the discussion. As I was reading The Goldfinch, I constantly had to look at the author’s photo on the dust jacket. For a woman to be able to write from inside the mind of a teen-age boy so successfully is a gift. Your gift is being anonymously gendered and reaching so many readers. Here’s to standing toe to toe with the big boys at work!

Appreciate your determination and concern. I just wasn’t up to dealing with ugly hate uneducated comments the kind hearted but deluded/misguided leave. Thank goodness Molly is tough and strong. Everyone is healing. Justice will ignore those who are foolish enough not to read the state statues, know the process, and are not willing to force the issue. The owners are showing up angry now as the dogs are impounded and have been declared “dangerous” so it goes to a judge. No buying their way out this time. They picked the wrong one to attempt to bully. This mouse knows exactly how to document, get legal assistance, and roar. (calming, calming, bubbling fountains HA HA) Thanks again. Means a lot

You seem to have a lot of followers! And rightly so, your blog is great. I would like to know what Marina you are near, and where are the sunsets, as I live on a boat and interested in marinas of the world!

We live in the Clear Lake area of TX which has channels (the rest of the lake is shallow) is navigable to the bay/the ship channel (for deep hulls) and leads into the Gulf of Mexico (at Galveston). The gulf is often called the Third Coast. The Clear Lake area is one of the biggest collection of marinas in the US – from Kemah/Seabrook areas to Nassau Bay(North side of lake) and League City/Watergate/South Shore HArbor, big marina we can walk to from the house (south side of lake). Popular area as there are hurricane holes, and it’s fairly close to Houston (the drive is much longer now with all the traffic than it used to be). There aren’t many tall buildings around here except at the conference hotel/marina, so we have big skies for sun rises and sun sets. Not unusual for us to catch both in a day.
Appreciate the kind words; thanks for sailing by to chat!

We see the Google earth camera car around here all the time – I’ll wave next time it’s spotted!
Galveston also has a nice marina (and there was a nice yacht club until Hurricane Ike) where we kept out boat for years as I get really nervous going down the ship channel with the huge tankers and cargo ships…although you have maritime right away, they can’t see you and don’t brake well. It also takes half a day to meander down to the gulf from Clear Lake. Water of lake, channel, or gulf pretty muddy right now, but we used to love to go offshore to blue water and dolphins

Continental shelf is pretty shallow – and we used to joke about walking across the lake. It’s not that bad, but many have swing keels or dagger boards. We had a deep draft in hopes of sailing off some day, but life intervened. You never get too far from water once you’ve sailed, though. It is quite a water centered community here.

Glad you wandered this way. Good thing to remember things here are often not what they seem and to always pack a sense of humor.(And don’t mind the cat, she’s delusional, but everyone except the dog is afraid to point it out to her.) Thanks for stopping by to chat for a while

Came here as a result of a recent comment by one of my blog followers, Roughseasinthemed: “Paul, ask philosophermouseofthehedge if she knows of any local (texas, galveston I think) non-profits who might be interested.” Drop me an email and I will explain more – https://learningfromdogs.com/interaction/

Phil, I accidently deleted your comment on my post on John Keats. The like button is too close to the trash button and my old hands are sometimes shaky. Sorry about that. But thank you for taking the time to write a comment and if you so wish to post it again I promise to be more careful. ❤ 🙂

Welcome. I was intrigued by your “cover” comments on Inkling. Visuals are so important – especially these days.
Sharing/linking is fine as long source is identified (this blog) and words not changed. I used to have a great deal of trouble with rebloggers who never posted anything of their own, but only collected posts by others – so not sure if the reblog button is turned on, but the other media probably are – which is fine.
Glad you stopped by and thanked for the kind words.

Pleased to have read you as well. And thank you for the Like, As Susie knows, I am the Word press Ghost, as I once nuked my WP existence when I, being quite tempted as curious, I click upon the ‘Never Press This Button’ Button. So now I linger and appear posting comments. 🙂

I was too busy reading to remember to leave “likes” . . . sorry about that. I would go back and hit them all, but then it would look like many of the likes I get . . . 6-7 in the span of less than one minute (my posts are rarely sub-minute reads) indicating people just hit like without reading.

In case I forget to “like” again, once subscribed (and until I unsubscribe) I read each post.